Automatic grain weigher



Nov. 24, 1925- 1,562,667

J. B. VAN DEREN AUTOMATIC GRAIN WEIGHER Original Filed Aug. 5, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J2 Vanflerem M'fbess:

Nov. 24, 1925. 1,562,667

J. B. VAN DEREN AUTOMATIC GRAIN WEIGHER Original Filed Aug. 5, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 24 1925. v 1,562,667

J. B. VAN DEREN AUTOMAT'I C GRA IN WEIGHER Original Filed Aug. 5, 1920 4'Sheets-Sheet 5 H/UC/HbOZ Mme- /0 w @WYM W Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

JAMES B. VAN DEREN. or HEnivnssEY, o LAHoMa.

AUTOMATIC GRAIN IGI-IEB.

Application filed August 5, 1920, Serial No. 401,373. Renewed September 9, 1922: Serial No. 587,232.

[0 (l /Z [KI/L0,)! it may concern:

Be it known that I, Janus B. VAN DEREN. citizen of the United States, and resident of llenncssey, Kingfisher County, State of Oklahoma. have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Grain lleighers. of which the following is a comf lete specification.

This invention relates to automatic grain weighers. and more especially to that class for weighing grain flowing in a continuous or intermittent stream From a bin or sup- -ilied by an elevator or the like, and my ob ject is to produce a weigher which is accurate and reliable in operation, and of simple, strong, durable and con'iparatively inexpensive construction.

With this object in view. the invention consists in certain novel and usetul features of construction and combination of parts as l'iercinatter described and'claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a grain weighing machine embodying the invention and applied operatively to the head or disbarge end of a grain elevator.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line ll II. of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a trout view of the same.

Figure l is a vertical section taken on the ine U IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a front view of the weigher detached trom the elevator and with the con trolling gate or doors in a dill'erent position from that shown by that in F igure 3.

Figure 6 is a rear view of the construction disclosed by Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing certain features appearing in the trout view, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 8 is a front view analogous to Figure but illustrating a modified construc tion.

Figure 9 is a rear view of the construction disclosed by Figure 8, but on'iitting the eleator.

Figure lll is ahorizontal fragmentary section taken on the line XX of Figure 8.

Figure ll is a side eicvation corresponding to Figure l, but showing another modificaion.

Figure 152 is a tion disclosed b 1 Fi ure-ll.

trout view of the construc- Figure 13 is a section on XIHXHI of Figure'lQ.

In the said drawings, 1 indicates the legs of an elevator of any suitable type, and i2 is the head th'er'eot' into which the grain is dis charged, the head terminating in a tapered nozzle 3 for discharge into an oscillatory spout 4: depending into a weigher hopper 5. The hopper'is dividedby a central partition (3 underlying the pivotal point of the spout, into similar compartments 7 and 8, closed respectively at their bottoms by doors 9 and 10. The doors are provided with upwardly projecting s ide flanges 11 to convert them into chutes and are hinged near the outer side walls of the respective compartments. the hinge pivots being above the plane of the door surface and pivoted to the container above the bottom of the plane of the respective compartments, which give the doors a very tree and'complete opening hinge movement, and a more pronounced outward movement, causing a freeing movement in relation to thedivision bar 12. This division bar extends downward from the container a short distance between the free edges of the doors, and prevents material discharge of grain from the closed door when in relaxed position and permits placing the free edges of the doors near each other ithout the opening door discharging onto the closing door.

Each door is provided with a bracket 13 and pivoted thereto respectively at their lower ends are rods 14 and 15. It will be noted that the pivotal connection of these rods to the doors is below the plane of the pivot point of the hinges of the doors, which causes a more pronounced movement of the pivots of the rods towards the vertical plane of the hinge pivots of the doors as the doors open; and'that the pivots are placed laterthe line ally with reference to the hinge points, and

the grain supporting surface of the doors, to give the doors aleverage on said rods and it is important thatthese connections be po sitioned so that the rods carry a much greater portion of the weight of the doors. and theload imposed upon them than that borne by the hinges ofth'c doors. The increased movement of the pivot points of the rods toward the vertical plane of the hinge pivot of the doors tends to increase the power of the opening doors and decrease the resistance ot'theclosing doors and increases the holding power of the open door, and these functions are enhanced by reason of the lat eral position of the rod pivots, as above described.

The upper ends of the rods 1e and 15 at the front side of the hopper are pivoted to the short arms of a pair of reversed bell crank levers l6 and 17 secured on the end of a pair of parallel shafts 18 respectively bridging the compartments 7 and 8 and ournaled in a reinforcing band 19 secured to the upper end of the hopper, the long arm of the bell-crank levers being pivotally connected by a link 20. Secured on the opposite ends of said shafts 18 are a pair of crank arms 21 and 22, the former being pivotally attached to the upper end of the other rod 1a, and the crank arm 22 to the upper end of the other rod 15, and said crank arm 22 is extended or increased in length and connected to operate a register 23, secured to one side of the hopper. The specific construction of the register forms no part of this invention, and is merely adapted to re cord the amount of grain which is weighed and passed tlll'l ugh the hopper. lVithin the hopper and near its rear wall by preference, shafts 18- are provided with a pair of depending crank arms 24, pivotally connected by a link 25, provided with a pair of upwardly projecting pins 26 receiving between them a pin 27 projecting from the oscillatory spout 4;.

A. pair of hangers 28 secured to the discharge end of the head 2 are provided with bearing points 2) upon which is fulcrumed the rectangular frame 30, provided with a scale beam 31 equipped with an adjustable poise 32, a pin projecting from a fixed point of the Stl'lh'flfllfe, such as a leg of the elevator, limiting downward movements of the weighted end of the scale beam.

The hopper 5 is suspended from the scale beam at the opposite side of its pivotal point from the weight -52 upon a pair of knife edge points 34 projecting from the said scale beam, the hopper is provided with a pair of parallel bars 35 having openings receiving said points 34. It will thus be seen that as the hopper is pivotally suspended from the scale beam, which in turn is fulcrumed in fixed position with. respect to the head 2, that weight imposed upon or within the hopper will result in downward movement of the same and upward movement of the weighted end of the scale beam, and that the adjustments of the poise on said beam will determine the weight which is necessary to effect downward movement of the hopper sufficient to accomplish the desired purpose,

as hereinafter more particularly described.

As hereinhefore stated, the doors 9 and 10 are capable of a limited movement before openii to permit grain to discharge from the compartments of the hopper, this lost-- motion being provided to insure ample op eration of a locking mechanism employed to prevent premature opening of the doors to discharge the grain from the hopper, which locking mechanism is constructed as follows: is a lever pivoted at 3'? to the band 19 of the hopper and pivotally connected at a lower point to the link 20, the lever terminating at its lower end. in oppositely projecting arms 88 rxtending concentrically of pivotal point 87. At one end, the lever is provided with a pivoted extension 39 of one of its arms 38, and at the other with a similar extension ei-O, the pivoted extensions be ing so arranged that they are free to move upward but are limited as to downward movement. This locking lever obviously is operatedthrough the opening and closing of the doors, but to aid in this movement and make it more positive and reliable, the lever is extended upward beyond its pivotal point and equipped with an adjustable weight 41. The pivoted locking dogs 39 and 40 as the said extensions are hereinafter termed, are adapted for alternate engagement with an upwardly projecting arm :2 on a lever 43 fulcrumed at a fired point with respect to the elevator, as at i l on one of the legs thereof, and said lever, which embraces both sides and the front of the hopper, pivoted at 4h") to the hopper so as to be moved (:lownward and. upward therewith, and thus withdraw the stop arm .1-2 from the path of dog 39 or H) with which it is engaged at the time.

Assuming that the parts are in the position shown by Figures 1, 3 and l, it will be apparent that grain discharged. from the elevator through the spoutwill enter compartment '7 and acc'uu'iulate upon the closel door 9, and that such door cannot open under the impact or weight of the grain upon it, sutlicicntly to discharge any of the grain, as under the initial opening movement, the dog 4L0 will strike and he arrested by the stop arm 522, though this action will not take place until the gravitative force of weight 1:1 is overcome. With the locking mechanism thus holding the parts as explained, the

grain continues to How into compartment 7 until the latter contains a suitieient volume of grain to overcome the resistance of the poise 32. lVhen this occurs, the lever beam 31 operates and the hopg ier moves downward until arm 42 is withdrawn from the path of the dog 40. As this occurs, the weight of the grain continues and completes the opening of the door 9 and through the connecting link 20 closes the door 10. At the same time through the connecting link and the pin 26, the oscillatory spout 4t is swung from the p ition shown in Figure 4- to its reverse po n where it delivers into the compartment In the movement of link 20 above mentioned, the locking lever m. lou

36 is of course, swung to the right and in the adjustment of spout 4, and weight 2'? is swung to the let'tsaid weight being eninloyed in order to make the action of the spout more reliable. as it resists accidental rocking movements and then insures the completion of such movements. In the event that the positive action applied to the ever &6 through the linl: should be insutiicient through wear or any other cause. to throw said lever its full distance. the weight 41 is intended to perform such tunation and thus give the said lever a range m HOVGDIPUlS which will insure that the dr ll) and :40 shall pass. the stoparm 42 so i cientl v to drop and be ready to engage said arm on the initial movements ot' the respective doors as irrain begins to enter the "espcctive COZHPZUtUIBBtS. It straw or the like prevents tull closing of a door, the loci-:- ine' mechanism might fail to swing its full distance. and in this event, the weight, 41?, as above explained. will complete or impart --;u'lii( 'icnt movement to the locking lever, to place the same in operative condition. In the event both doors are partially clogged, each will discharge grain at less than the predetermined weight or volume. and with discharges the obstruction will he dislodged and the locking mechanism will again funct ion properly.

it will be noticed that the opening door has an increased leverage over the closing oor. by reason ot the pivotal connection with the doors of the rods 14 and 15, and this tends to. insure a more efficient and rcliable operation. in tact. tends to close the open door even it the weight it is dispensed with. although. this weight reduces friction of the locking does on the trip-arm and permits oi freer action ot the scale beam and. consequently more accurate weighing and. also assists in holding the doors in their rfiill'tnle positions. The oscillatory spout or valve has play connection with the door to permit it to be moved its toll distance even though the door may not he t'ullv closed because of clogging hy straw or otherwise, as above referred to.

In F res 8 to 10 inclusive, a modified instruction is shown as followsf The shaft 18 and bell-crank levers ill and 17 and cranks 2i and are dispenseiil with and in lieu thereot a single shalt iii is provided, the spout l being disposed in a higher plane in this construction in order to avoid conflict with shaft in. upon the opposite ends oi which are mounted roclvlevers 4:7 and 4%). to which are pivotallv connected the rods 1.4 and One otthe rock-levers is provided with a depending arm or lever 36, and the same is equipped its lower end with the dogs 39 and 4;) adapt-ed for alternate en with the n n 52 ct the lever il' fitfiei V Y The rock-lever it 15 provided -h tension arm l-8 pivotally connected to 0perate the recording device 23, and the rocic lever l? is provided with an upwardly projecting" T-shaped extension l9 terminating in outwardly projecting lugs 50 between which is adapted to swing or play weighted ever 51 pivoted on shaft 46. This weighted lever is adapted to perform for the construc tion shown by *igures 8 to 10 inclusive, the same service as weighted lever ll provides in the preceding figures, as when the doors are opened and closed. the said weighted lever is pushed by one of the lugs 50 until it passes beyond the center of gravity, and then it falls to the opposite side and strikes against the other lug 50, the impetus or momentum thus gained. insuring the full and complete movements 01? the lever 36 with respect to the arm. l2.

.A rock arm 52 is secured rigidly by a set screw (see Figure 10) upon shaft 46; and is pivoted at 54-. to an arm 55 projecting upward from the adjacent end of the spout l the arm having a slot 56 to LCCOIHHIQ- date the necessary play of the pin 54 due to the factthat the arm 52 and the arm swing from diii erentcenters, the axis of movement of the latter being coincidental with the pivotal point of the spout d on the lower end of the head 2. Except for the differences above described. the construction and operation of the construction of the mechanism shown by Figures 8 to 10 in elusive, is identical with that of the preceding figures, and a detailed description of the operation is therefore unnecessary.

In Figures 11' to 13 inclusive, the novelty oi construction over the two types of construction already described resides wholly in thelocking mechauisn'i. ln the last named figures it will he noted that there is a lever 57 pivoted at to the hopper and tulcruined at 59 to the leg of the clevatoiu and that the "free end 01'' said lever is forked at 60 to receive the reduced end oil a rock arm (51 pivoted at 62 to the hopper and extending across the front side of the same. It will thus be seen that downward inoven'ieut of the hopper results in upward swinging n'iovement of the portion 63 oi said 1'(7Cl-ttl'lll (ll. and by reference to Figure 12. it will be seen that said portion is provided with a recess 64; about mid-way its length. in this construction. the lever 26 is provided at its lower end with forwardly projecting pin 65. 66 is a dog pivotally suspended from pin and having a slotted engagement: with thelatter for a purpose whichhereinafter appears said doe being adapted to occupy a position vertically above lever extension 63 at one side or the other of the recess 64: of said extension. 67 and 68 are similar latches pivoted to the hopper and limited in their downward movement by underlying p ns or studs 69. each of the latches being formed with a shoulder 70 at its under edge and tapered upwardly from said shoulder to its tree end, and each latch is also provided with a forwardly PIOjQCtHlg ug 71 for alternate engagement with the upper end of the dog 66 for the pur 3058 ot pre ventin upward movement ot the same and to i a n hence ot the extension or lever 61. With the arts )ositioned as shown in l i ure 12, :3 'r slight descent oltne hopper due to the initial charging oit one of tee coinoartments thereof resul j in causing the extension 63 to (3G upward against the over- Li press the dog 7 lying lug 71 or one of the latches, but said atch is not distnrhed until the predetermined weight is upon the closed door of the hopper. hen this condition exists, the e tension 63 forces the dog 66 to raise the latch 67 and trip the shoulder 70 thereof from ngagement with the pin oil lever 36. This permits the door to swing open and the other door to be closed in the manner already explained, and incidental to this movement, the lever swings across the face oi? "he hopper and its pin 63 engages the beveled end of the right hand latch and raises the same, the latch immediately dropping hack and causing its shoulder W to said pin 65 and thus lock the dog 66 in op- "rative position at the opposite. side of the recess 64, which recess is provided so that the dog may swing freely with the lever 86 without interference on the part of the extension 63. As the operation of the entire weight-3r has been set torth, it is not believed that any reoapitulation thercot is essential, but it is to be understood that all IllOCllllCZl. tions falling properly within the spirit and scope of the invention and the appended claims may be resorted to without departure jt'roni the scope oi the latter.

From the above description, it will he apparent that l have produced an automatic \veigher which will operate etiiciently, reliahlv and which embodies the desirable tea turcs o'l sin'iplicitv, strength, durability and comparative inexpensiveness o'l' construction.

I claim:

1. An automatic grain weighcr, comprising ascale heain a hopper pivotally suspended theretroin, having two compartinents, a door tor each conipartment simul taneously operable in reversed directions, a inovahle device actuated hy up and, down movements of the hopper, a l ver on the hopper, prevented from movement by said device when the hopper is elevate l, an oscil latory spout for directing grain into the conr partinent having its door closed, means actuited by a sutlicient weight of grain in such compartment to lower the honper. to unloel:

the door, hell-cranl-s photo: on he hop and linked together and to as. lever, links pivotally connect ng the oppor L nos oi the espective hell-crrnl s to the doors l the hinges thereof to give the opening door added leverage in closing the other door, and means actuatec by the movement of the doors to reverse the position. oi the spout and change the flow of grain into the other compertinent.

2. An automatic grain weigher comprising a scale beam, a yieldingly-elevated hop per pivotally suspended trom said scale beam and having two compartments and a pivoted door controlling each compartment, a lever pivoted to the hopper and movable by up and down movement thereof, and provided. with an. arm, a lever pivoted to the hopper and provided with a pair of dogs for alternately engaging said arm to hold one door closed and the other open, and means operable by the doors in the initial part of the opening movement of the closed one, ca by a sufiicient weight in the hopper to lower the same and thereby withdraw said arm from the path ot' the engaging dog, to swi: g the and dispose its other dog in posi ion to he locked against reverse movement 0; he as the hopper is reelevated and revers s the movement of said arm.

3, 1th a: natic grain weigher comprisa scale beam, a vieldingly-elevated hop- I pivotally suspended from said scale heain and having two compartments and a pivoted door controlling each compartment, a lever pivoted to the hopper and movable by up and down movement thereof, and provided with an arm, a lever pivoted to the hopper and provided with a pair of dogs tor alternately engaging said arm to hold one door closed and the other open, means operable hy the doors in the initial part ot the opening movement of the closed one, caused l'rv a sulli "lent weight in the hopper to lower the same and thereby withdraw said arm from the path of the engaging dog, to swing the lever and dispose its other d 0g in position to he locked against reverse movement of the lever, as the hopper is i'eele vated and reverses the n'io'venient ot said arm; and means cooperating with the door in shitting the position of the dog-carrying lever.

An automatic grain weigher, compris ing a scale hean'i, a hopper pivotally suspended thereitrom and havingtwo compartments, a door for 0; ch minpartineut siinultaneously operable in reverse direction, a movable device actuated by up and down movements ot the hopper, a lever on the hopper, prevented from movement hy said device when the hopper is elevated, an oscillatory spout for directing grain into the compartment having its door closed, means actuated hy a sutlicient weight 01'' grain in such coinpartn'ient, to lower the hopper, to unlock the doors, to permit the closed and opened doe-rs to open and close respectively, lint: opeiatively connected to the spent, and means actuated by the door-movement,

for causing the link to reverse the position of the gout.

5. In an automatic grain weighcr comprising a scale beam. a yieldingly-elevated hopper pirotally suspended i i. in d scale beam and having two compartments, a pair oi pivoted doors at the discharge ends oi? the compartments, a division bar between the free ends of the doc an oscillatory spout to dischargealternate into sai'd conrparlments as the doc rihereo'r are closed, a lever having a loclrin arm, and movable by up and down movement of the hopper, a swinging lever on the hopper, provided with do for alternate locking engagement with sad arm when the hopper is cl vatcd and adapted to swing clear thereof when the hopper is depressed by a char e of grain therein, and means for transmitting power from either door as it is opened by the grain, after being unlocked by depression of the hopper beyond the division bar, to swing the said dog-carrying lever, close the other door and change the position of the spout to discnarge into the other compartment.

6. In an :nitomatic grain weigher connorising a scale beam, a yieldin ,-elevatcd hopper pivotally suspended. om said scale beam and having two compartments, a pair of pivoted doors at the discharge ends of the compart-ments, a division bar lIJOiZWGQTl the free ends of the doors, an oscillatory spout to discharge alternately into said compartments as the doors thereol are closed, a lever having a locking arm, and movable by up and down movement of the hopper. a swinging lever on the hopper, provided with dogs for alternate locking engagement with said arm when the hopper is elevated and adapted to swing clear thereof when the hopper is depressed by a charge of grain therein, a recording device, and means actuated by the opening moven'icnt of either door. tor operating the recording device.

In a"- autoinatio grain wci her, a yielding-elemted hopper having two compartments open at the bottom, doors controlling said compartments and pivoted to opposite sides oi the hopper at the lower end thcreo'l, a partition across the hopper between the lower end thorcot, a partition across the hopper between the tree edges of the doors and provided with concave faces substantially concentric of the axis of said doors and depending to a plane below that of said axis, a movable device actuated by up and down movements of the hopper under the loading and unloading thereof, a latch mechanism cooperating with said movable device in locking either door closed and the other open, and linlt mechanism pivot-ally connecting the doors together and to said latch mechanism, said mechanism being connected to the doors at points below the plane of the axis thereof.

8. In an automatic grain weigher, a container, a vertical partition forming two compartments in said container, a division bar extending downward from the partition, and a pair of doors hinged near the outer side wallsof said compartments respectively, for opening and" closing alterna'tely, the hinge pivots of said doors being placed above theplane of the grain support ing surface of said doors, said doors when closed having their respective free edges close tothe respective sides of the division bar and above the plane of the lower edge thereof.

9. In an automatic grain weigher, a container, a vertical partition forming two compartments in said container, a division bar extending downward from the partition,

and a pair of doors hinged near the outer side walls of said compartments and above the plane of the bottoms thereof respec tively, for opening and closing alternately, said doors when closed having their respective free edges close to the respective sides of the division bar and above the plane of the lower edge thereof.

10. In an automatic grain weigher, a container having two compartments, a division bar extending downward below the bottoms of said compartments, winged doors hinged near the outer sidewalls of said coi'npartments respectively, and means whereby opening movement of'either door shall alte'ct closing movement of the other door, said means being connected with said doors respectively below the plane of the hinges thereof, said doors when closed having their respective free edges close to the respective sides of the division bar and above the plane of the lower edge thereof.

11. In an automatic grain weighing device, a container having two compartments. hinged doors to open and close the bottoms of said compartments respectively through downward and upward movements, means connecting said doors whereby downward movement of either door shall aflect upward movement of the other door, said means being connected with said doors respectively below the plane of the hinges thereof, and a division bar between the tree edges of said doors preventing material discharge of: grain from either compartment when the respective door stands with its free edge above the plane of the lower edge of the division bar and permitting close proximity of the doors to each other without the opening door discharging grain on the closing door.

12. In an automatic grain weigher, yieldingly elevated container having two compartments, hinged wing doors controlling the bottoms of said compartments respectively, by alternate opening and closing movements, the hinged points of said doors lit) lit)

being above the plane of the grain support ing surface of the doors, means for connecting said doors whereby as either door is opened, the other door shall close, said means being connected with said doors respectively below the plane of the hinged points thereof and laterally to give said doors a leverage on said means, a division bar between the free edges of said doors, and an oscillating deflector for discharging grain into said compartments alternately as the doors are closed.

13. In an automatic grain weigher, yield ingly elevated container having two compartments, hinged wing doors controlling the bottoms of said compartments respectively, by alternate opening and closing movements, the hingecL points of said doors being above the plane of the grain supporting surface of the doors, means for connecting said doors whereby as either door is opened, the other door shall close, said means being connected with said doors respectively below the plane of the hing-ed points thereof and laterally to give said doors a leverage on said means, a division bar between the free edges of said doors, and a trip lever pivoted on the container, and to a relatively stationary object and operable by downward and upward move ment of the container, and adapted for use in connection with any suitable latch mechanism in controlling the application of power to said doors.

14. In an automatic grain weigher, a container having two compartments, hinged wing doors for alternately opening and closing said compartments respectively, said doors being hinged above the plane of the surface thereof, a division bar between the free edges of the doors and means whereby as either door opens, the other shall close, said means being pivotally connected with said doors below the plane of the hinges thereof.

15. In an automatic grain weighing device, a container, a vertical partition dividing it into two compartments and a division bar extending downward from the partition, a pair of doors hinged to the lower end of the container for opening and closing alternately, the free edges of each door when in the horizontal plane of the division bar, being closed substantially to the escape therefrom of grain or of discharging grain falling upon the closing door, and means connecting said doors whereby downward movement of either door shall affectupward movement of the other door; said means being pivotally connected to said doors respectively, below the plane of the hinges thereof to increase the operative leverage of the opening door as it opens and decrease the resistance of the other door as it closes.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto attach my signature.

JAMES B. VAN DER-EN. 

